Tag Archives: school

Education Bill, a step towards vision 2030

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Education is a very imperative factor towards economic and social development. Most of the industrialized countries are characterized by a large number of erudite citizens. Since primary school education was made free in Kenya, after the 2002 General elections, many of the children affected by poverty got the opportunity to acquire education. Although numerous were still locked out either because of the long distances from available schools to their homes or because of the negligence of some parents especially those from rural communities who do not value education. A lot of brilliant students were therefore denied their right to education. Fortunately, this will soon be a tale of the past if the education bill that was recently tabled in parliament is to be passed. The bill is intended to make education free and compulsory to every child.

The bill states that education should be free and compulsory to every child, and parents should enroll any child of school going age to a nearby primary school. It also states that no child should be held back until he/she completes basic education. If a child fails to attend school on a regular basis or is not enrolled in any school, the parent or guardian is to face up to one year jail sentence or a fine of 5,000 shillings. The bill also outlines that only a cabinet secretary, through a gazette notice, will exempt any child’s admission to a school. Toting up to that, the cabinet secretary in consultation with the National Education Board and County Education Board will establish primary and secondary institutions within a radius of 3 kilometers of every residential area. This will curb the problem of schools being inaccessible to some children, particularly those in rural areas.

This bill could transform the lives of many Kenyans. There are countless children unfairly deprived of education and for some, it is due to the negligence of their parents. This will also increase opportunities for the girl child to be educated as well as eliminate their early marriages since some communities are notorious for holding the belief that educating the girl child is a waste of time and resources. Additional opportunities for education will also promote economic development. This is because education increases invention and innovation. Many scholars will also be enrolled in secondary schools and this will open scholarship opportunities for secondary education. If these students pass well, they will be sponsored by various institutions and organizations for their secondary education and for some even their tertiary education. Therefore the education bill is a colossal step towards development in Kenya.

EDUCATION | Boarding schools in Kenya should strive to be friendlier.

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Most Kenyans have been to a boarding school either for their primary or secondary level education. To most, their experience in these institutions is an ordeal they would rather not talk about. This is because, with the intent of ensuring academic excellence, they tend to be too stern on their students. Therefore they acquire the opposite results. Some schools even go to the extent of banning their students from talking to their parents or relatives when they come to school, it is still indefinite why they put in place such restrictions while students get relieved and motivated when they are able to talk to their relatives when they come to school, because it is viewed as a relief from the routine. So when they are denied with this opportunity they end up being distracted and bitter. Hence automatically making them less productive in school.

Most of the schools where the administration is strict to students, mostly do not yield positive results at the end of the day and also there is usually misbehaving at the slightest exposure to “freedom”. Also, many pupils end up sneaking from school and thus exposing them to danger. The reasons why boarding schools should be friendlier is because students are more motivated to study. Also, most schools forbid their students from carrying additional food stuff to school. The food offered in school may not be enough to satisfy them. Hence they end up having low concentration levels in class or become fruitless due to hunger. Others even resolve to sneak out of school to seek for food exposing them to many risks. For instance, recently a student of Koelel High school met his death after sneaking school in search for food. Most of these institutions also deny leave out permits to their students. A student might be seriously sick and most schools lack proper medication amenities. They deny their students permission and hence the health of the patients deteriorate and therefore leading to deaths in school.

In conclusion, boarding facilities in Kenya for secondary and primary education should provide for their students a sociable environment. Being strict does not equal to performance. Instead it leaves the students frustrated and stressed. Therefore do not perform to their full academic potential. Some of the rules are bizarre, for instance in most schools scholars are not allowed to greet their relatives leave alone speaking to them when they come to school for whatever the reasons. This is very baseless. Therefore such institutions should consider loosening up a little when it comes to their rules. If they are really in pursuit of academic excellence, as hostility only makes them deter academically.

http://www.sikizwa.com/life in a Kenyan boarding school